Oachira Temple

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Oachira Temple
Oachira Parabrahma Temple
Religion
Affiliation	Hinduism
District	Kollam
Deity	It has no deity or idol but is dedicated to Parabrahma. Believed to be Lord Shiva.
Festivals	Oachirakali, Panthrandu Vilakku, Eruvathiyetam Onam
Location
Location	Oachira
State	Kerala
Country	India
Location in Kerala
Geographic coordinates	9°08′10″N 76°30′37″E / 9.1360°N 76.5102°E / 9.1360; 76.5102
Architecture
Type	It has no Sanctum Sanctorum.[1]
Creator	Velu Thampi Dalawa

Oachira Temple is an ancient temple located in Oachira in Kollam district in the South Indian state of Kerala. According to the Puranas, this temple is one of the famous sacred places of Kerala and India.^[2] Oachira is on the border of Kollam and Allappuzha districts, next to the National Highway 66. This temple is known "DakshinaKashi"(SouthaKashi).This very ancient pilgrimage center is centered on the ParaBrahma temple (that is dedicated to the Para Brahman (or Param Brahman) or Ohmkaram, the Universal Consciousness), and covers thirty-six acres of land.

Every year the Oachira Vrischikam Festival is celebrated during December and January. Oachirakali is a famous ritual performed here during June and it involves mock-fighting in muddy water by traditional martial art experts. And "Irupathattam onam" (28 days after Onam) is also celebrated. It is the festival of cattle. In this festival, huge "Eduppu kala" (gigantic idols of bull made of cloth&hay) are made. They are then pulled on giant wheels to the Oachira Temple from the site where they are made. Normally there are around 50 such structures. It is the biggest festival in "Onattu Kara", which is an area of a few square miles. Oachirakkali was actually a war exercise performed annually by soldiers of Kayamkulam Raja. Nearby, about 108 Kalaries were in 52 karas up to the beginning of the 20th century. Soldiers belonging to the above Karas met together at Oachira in the Malayalam month of Mithuna every year and performed war-like exercises. This is what is called Oachirakkali.

Ward and Conner, two British officials entrusted to survey of Travancore in the beginning of the 19th century, made their observations about Oachira in their report. In the report it was made clear that there was a very old and damaged temple on the eastern side of the Padanilam. It was also disclosed that there was a large reservoir at the center of the vast ground on which the temple stands, (which was now known as Kallukettuchira), and which is outside the temple compound today.